Korean National Ballet Creative Performance Series

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) will present the Korean National Ballet Creative Performance Series, a new limited-term program featuring the U.S. premiere of epic work, Hoi Rang on Friday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m. - Sunday, May 16 at 8:00 p.m.

As a collaboration of the Korean National Ballet and the Korean Cultural Centers in both Washington, D.C. and New York, the series aims to introduce to U.S. audiences exceptional contemporary and creative performances by Korea's premier ballet company from recent years. This limited-term virtual performing arts program also explores the unique style and techniques of ballet in Korea through these detailed and exclusive recorded performances.

Premiere: May 17, 2019 at The Grand Theater at Yeulmaru

Hoi Rang, an original work by the Korean National Ballet, is based on the story of the character Rang as told by early-20th century Korean journalist Jang Ji-yeon in his compilation book Ilsayusa, published during the brief era of the Korean Empire (1897-1910).

In place of her aging father who is unable to serve, Rang disguises herself as a man to join the army and lead it to victory, achieving her own goals and those of her nation. This work is an epic ballet-play that adds artistic imagination to a classical story of filial piety. Hoi Rang was created with the choreography of Kang Hyo-hyung, a rising star choreographer and soloist with the Korean National Ballet. The production is further enhanced through the contributions of skilled professionals with international experience, including in the areas of directing, staging, and costume creation.

The Korean National Ballet (KNB), established in 1962, is Korea's first professional ballet company and embodies the history of Korean ballet. During its nearly 60-year history, KNB has been widely recognized both at home and abroad for its scores of skilled dancers and choreographers as well as art direction and an impressive repertoire. Today, comprised of about 60 of the country's top ballet dancers and a repertoire of international masterpieces, the ballet company continues to reach out to audiences through regular performances and an array of special events.

KNB's major full-length ballet repertoire includes Yuri Grigorovich's Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Spartacus, and La Bayadere; Patrice Bart's Giselle; Márcia Haydée's Sleeping Beauty; and John Cranko's The Taming of the Shrew. With a range of other performances including Uwe Scholz's The Seventh Symphony, Glen Tetley's The Rite of Spring, George Balanchine's Serenade, Christian Spuck's Anna Karenina and Renato Zanella's Mata Hari, KNB has broadened its scope from classical ballet to modern, neo-classical and dramatic ballet. KNB has also strived to create a repertoire of original works such as Prince Hodong and Heo Nan Seol Heon - Su Wol Kyung Hwa inspired by traditional Korean folk tales and classic poems, respectively. Hoi Rang, which premiered in 2019, is another original work that renders a traditional Korean narrative through the movement of Western dance forms. These productions demonstrate how much effort has been put into the creation of original Korean ballet works.

Since 2015, the ballet company has highlighted the KNB Movement Series to provide its dancers with an opportunity to showcase their choreography talent. This project is significant not only as it supports the dancers as they start a new phase of their lives as choreographers but also enriches and expands KNB's repertoire by further developing the pieces created by the dancers to become robust works that continue beyond the one-off showcase. Also, to fulfill its mission of making ballet more accessible to the public, KNB engages in a range of programs such as Regional Performance Tours and Ballet Academy Tours that bring ballet to every corner of Korea. Furthermore, it has performed around the world as the representative Korean ballet company, promoting the excellence of Korean culture and art to the entire world.

For more information about the company, visit their website: https://washingtondc.korean-culture.org/en/1125/board/889/read/108016

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Website: https://go.evvnt.com/781141-0?pid=176

Time: 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm